2010 saw a plethora of treats for video games fans with the likes of Red Dead Redemption, Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood, Gran Turismo 5, Call of Duty: Black Ops and many more first class titles. This year promises to step things up a notch with a gourmet of palatable gaming dishes bound to leave you salivating for more. Here are five standout titles that will turn heads.

Batman: Arkham City

Format: XB360/PS3/PC

Publisher: Warner Bros.

Release Date: Q4 2011

Having picked up numerous Game of the Year awards, a BAFTA and a list of media awards big enough to stretch across Gotham City, Batman: Arkham Asylum was always going to be a tough act to follow. Whilst few details have been released about Batman: Arkham City, it is already shaping up rather favourably. The latest trailer confirms Dr. Hugo Strange as Batman’s nemesis. Here he claims he knows Batman’s identity as Bruce Wayne.

Batman: Arkham City will build upon the story and dark atmosphere of its predecessor. The action takes place in Arkham City, the new maximum security home for all of Gotham City’s thugs, gangsters and criminal masterminds.

Batman: Arkham City boasts an all-star cast of classic heroes and villains including appearances by Catwoman and Two-Face.

Dead Space 2

Format: XB360/PS3/PC

Publisher: EA

Release Date: 28 January 2011

The sci-fi survival horror extravaganza continues in a couple of weeks with the hotly anticipated Dead Space 2. The first outing’s protagonist Isaac Clarke wakes up from a coma to find himself in the middle of an alien plagued space city. Picking up where he left off, Isaac must disembowel, decapitate and bludgeon the alien hordes whilst battling with his own inner demons and fleeing from the government. This dark, macabre affair is an absolute must for those who like blood-soaked survival horror.

If this isn’t enough to entice gamers, how about the prospect of a multi-player mode?

F.3.A.R

Format: XB360/PS3/PC

Publisher: Warner Bros.

Release Date: 22 March 2011

Continuing with the horror theme is Warner Bros’ F.3.A.R. Initially scheduled for a release last year, this paranormal first person shooter will be heading our way late March.

The big change here is the inclusion of a divergent co-op mode that gives gamers distinctly different abilities that affects their own gameplay and experience as well as that of other gamers they are playing with or against.

To ensure that the chills are even more blood curdling than before, Warner Bros. have recruited horror stalwart John Carpenter and horror writer Steve Niles. Carpenter helped craft the cinematics whilst Niles co-wrote the demented storyline that reveals the motivations and family dynamics of the main characters.

For gamers that like to weep and extract all sorts of bodily fluids whilst they play, F.3.A.R is for you.

Gears of War 3

Format: XB360

Publisher: Microsoft

Release Date: Autumn 2011

Gears of War 2 was a massive improvement in every conceivable way over the already solid Gears of War. If Gears of War 3 can up the ante even further than we are set for a Game of the Year candidate. Gears of War 3 boasts female character Bernadette Mataki in addition to more guns and a four-player co-op mode. Forget Call of Duty, Medal of Honor and Battlefield – come Autumn 2011 it’s all about Gears of War!

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

Format: Wii

Publisher: Nintendo

Release Date: 2011

It wouldn’t seem right to talk about the most anticipated games of this year without mentioning one of the most iconic characters in the videogame world – Link! Whilst a concrete date has not been set for this game and Nintendo are keeping a lot of details under wraps, Skyward Sword will be a prequel to Ocarina of Time, released over twelve years ago on the N64, and is set to take advantage of the Wii’s innovative control system.

In addition to these five titles 2011 also promises the following:

Brink (XB360/PS3/PC)

Release Date: Spring 2011

Bulletstorm (XB360/PS3/PC)

Release: 22 February 2011

Crysis 2 (XB360/PS3/PC)

Release Date: 25 March 2011

Deus Ex: Human Revolution (XB360/PS3/PC)

Release Date: 2011

Forza Motorsport 4 (XB360)

Release Date: 2011

Homefront (XB360/PS3/PC)

Release Date: 11 March 2011

Killzone 3 (PS3)

Release Date: 2011

L.A. Noire (PS3)

Release Date: 2011

Little Big Planet 2 (PS3)

Release Date: 21 January 2011

Mass Effect 3 (XB360/PS3/PC)

Release Date: Christmas 2011

Portal 2 (XB360/PS3/PC)

Release Date: 21 April 2011

Rage (XB360/PS3/PC)

Release Date: 16 September 2011

Resistance 3 (PS3)

Release Date: 6 September 2011

Silent Hill 8 [Working title] (XB360/PS3)

Release Date: 2011

Star Wars: The Old Republic (PC)

Release Date: 2011

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (XB360/PS3/